Improvement in electric-clock regulators



G.LUVND. Electric Glock-Regulator,

No. 210,133. Patented Nov. 19, f(87:3.

wfg/VMT ILPETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPDIR. WASHINGTUN, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE LUND, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO JOIIN ALEXANDER LUND, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC-(BLOCK REGULATORS.

Spccilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 210,133, dated November 19, 1878; application lled July 22, 1878; patented in England, July 15, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE LUND, of London, England, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Synchronizing Clocks and other Time-Pieces, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to apparatus for synchronizing clocks or other time-pieces or frequently setting them to equal or standard time, in which one of the hands or other moving part, when it reaches a certain point in its travel, say every hour, is acted upon by a pair of setting-levers, which approach each other and move the hand (it it is either fast or slow) to the position of correct time, the' levers being operated electrically from a primary or standard time-keeper.

M y presentinvention consists of an im proved apparatus for this purpose, in which the said setting-levers are, in addition to the arms which clasp the clock-hand, provided with camarms, which present their opposed faces to the action ot' a pin or projection moving between them, all parts being so arranged that as the said pin or projection approaches the fulcrum ofthe levers the cani-arms are parted, and the clasping-arms are consequently caused to embrace the clock-hand; also, in a weighted lever bearing said pin, raised by the action ot' the elockfworli, sustained when raised by a suitable catch, and dropped to actuate the settin g -levers by electrically withdrawing the catch; also, in certain details of construction, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings my apparatus is shown in rear elevation in Figure 1 and in side elevation in Fig. 2.

Let A represent either the minute-hand of the clock, or a false minute-hand, or the counterpoise of the minute-hand, or other moving part which may be operated upon to set the clock. B B are the settil ig-levers, pivoted upon a stud, (l, placed opposite the position of the hand A when it is at the end of each hour or other interval ot time at which it is desired to correct the clock.

The arms a a of the levers B B are provided at their ends with pins or projections, between which to embrace the hand A in setting it, and their other arms, b b, are bent or shaped in zigzag form, or so as to present their approaching faces, in the manner of cams, to the action of a pin or projection, D. A spring, c, is arranged to keep the levers B B normally open or their arms a a separated.

The piu D may be operated direct-ly by, or be attached to, the armature of an electro-mag-- net, if desired; but I prefer to mount it, as shown, on a weighted lever, E, arranged to be lifted by the action of the cloeleworl; and dropped to operate the levers B B by the ac tion of an electro-magnet.

To raise the lever E, I provide a cam or snail, F, mounted on and operated by some revolving` shaft or spindle, G, and acting on the arm or tail E' of the lever, or on some inter mediate part. Vhen suticiently raised the leverEis eaughtand retained byaspring-catch, I-I, which may be retracted to release the lever by the action of an electro-magnet.

rIhe operation is as follows: Assuming that the clock is to be set or synchronized at the end of each hour, and that, as shown, a dummy or set-hand is operated upon, connected with the minute-hand. About tive minutes before the end of the hour the lever E is raised to its full height by the cam F, and there held by the catch II. At the exact completion ot' the hour, when the hand A stands nearly midway between the levers B B, a current of electricity is sent from the regulator or standard clock, which, acting through an electro-magnet, draws back the catch II and releases the lever E, which falls into the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. As the lever falls the pinD acts upon the zigzag arms b b ot' the levers B B, tirst separating them, thereby bringing together the arms aa, and then, having passed the points d. d, drops into the open space c, thus permitting the arms a a to spring apart. As the arms a, a come together they move the hand A, it it has deviated any from the correct time, exact-l y to the hour-point, and then separating, as described, leave it free to continue its motion.

In returning, the pin l) must again close thc arms a a,- but by arranging that the cam shall not commence to act until about live minutes after the hour, the hand will have moved sutticientl y to clear them.

It' desired that the arms a a shall dwell or rest for a short time while embracing the hand A, the points d d may be formed with straight faces for a short distance.

Thelever E may Work from below, and be operated bya springin lieu of a weight, if desired.

In small clocks, or those in which the pin D is operated directly by the armature of the magnet, the zigzag of the arms b b, forming the points d d and space e, is omitted, and the ypiu effects its return mot-ion at once, thus leaving the levers free to open.

In lieu of providing the ends ot' the arms a a with pins or projections for embracing the hand A, these arms may embrace a pin on the hand.

I claim as my inventionl. A device for synchronizing clocks, consisting of the levers B B, fulcrumed at C, having arms a a., for setting the hand, and eamarms b b, which present their opposed faces to the action oi' a pin or projection, D, moving between them, all so arranged that as said pin or projection approaches the fulcrnm C the arms b b are parted and the arms a acaused to embrace the hand A, substantially as set forth.

2. The levers B B, having arms a a, adapted to embrace the hand A, and arms I; b, so shaped that as the pin D is moved between them toward their fulerum it rst causes the arms a a to approach each other, and then permits them to spring apart, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The Weighted lever E, bearing the pin D, sustained when raised by a suitable catch, and when released adapted to actuate in its fall the levers B B through the medium of its pin D, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the hand A, levers B B, constructed substantially as set forth, their operating-pin D, Weighted lever E, cam F, and catch H, arranged and operating together to form a synchronizing attachment for clocks, substantially as shown and described.

ln Witness whereof` I, the said GEORGE LUND, have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of March, 1878.

GEORG E LUND.

Witnesses:

J. C. MEWBURN,

169 Fleet Street, London. J. ROME,

4l Cornhfill, London. 

